Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

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During recent years, the issue of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) has received increasing attention by endocrine researchers, regulatory authorities as well as public and political bodies. The level of interest generated indicates the need to increase awareness and scientific information available on EDCs.

To this end, ESE has established the Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Working Group to increase visibility of EDCs through the inclusion of this topic in ESE-supported conferences, workshops, training courses and other educational activities.

Endocrine experts united in disappointment with European Commission's proposed criteria on EDCs

In June 2017, the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) co-signed a joint letter with the Endocrine Society (ES) and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) to the European Commission expressing concern with the proposed criteria for the identification of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs).

The letter, sent to 75 European Health, Agriculture and Environment Ministers, outlines the key issues with these criteria; that they will likely fail to identify harmful EDCs, will fail to ensure a high level of health and environment protection, and that arbitrary exemptions will allow harmful chemicals to escape classification as EDCs.

Through this letter, ESE, ESPE and ES united in criticising the failure to base these criteria on coherent scientific reasoning and in recommending that EU member states improve these accordingly.

On Thursday 28 September 2017, The European Parliament’s environment (ENVI) committee objected to the Commission’s proposed criteria for endocrine disruptors.

The European Society of Endocrinology, along with ES and ESPE, welcomed the objection proposed by MEPs Jytte Guteland and Bas Eickhout, which was approved by 389 votes to 235, with 70 abstentions, producing the absolute majority needed to block the proposal. The proposal will therefore need to be revised and resubmitted, taking into account the concerns raised.

Public Consultation on draft guidance document for identifying endocrine disruptors under EU legislation for pesticides and biocides

In December 2017, on request of the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) invited interested parties to comment on a draft guidance document for identifying endocrine disruptors under EU legislation for pesticides and biocides.

This consultation period is now closed

The European Society of Endocrinology and the ESE EDC Working Group have prepared and submitted a formal response to the guidance document as part of this consultation (see related documents below).